Sacrifice
From the “men and their power tools” department: I recently bought a new circular saw to replace the old one I’ve had for probably 20+ years, which was not only under-powered but hopelessly dull. I wanted a new one - partly to cut the MDF board I use for my new pieces, and partly because I had a bunch of old crappy masonite pieces that needed to go away.
I do this every couple of years: Whenever I change media/styles and don’t plan on showing the old work any more, I go through the old stuff, save the best of it, give away/sell cheap to friends what I can of the rest, then the other unwanted work meets the saw. Some people think this is crazy, but I absolutely love doing it. It’s incredibly freeing, and so much better than just throwing the pieces away - it’s a ritual sacrifice. It leaves me free of failure, with plenty of room - both in the studio and in my psyche - to move forward. (Twenty years ago, when I used to paint on glass, I had a big box in my studio and I’d take a hammer to the sacrifices. Now that was a release.)
So yesterday was break-in-the-new-saw day. Cut some new boards for new pieces, then about a dozen old Andrew artworks were cleaned out of my studio and out of my life. (And, yes, the new saw is like a knife going through room-temperature butter). The simple act of throwing away is an amazingly healthy exercise.
Onward.
—–
Relief.
oh yes … *that* ritual. that is the first time i have heard someone else speak of it so openly and honestly, i think. it seems such a secret artist thing. i did the same over the weekend. with some textile pieces that are just no longer “me” and i would not even want to sell or give away. took off all the vintage buttons, then chop chop chop and into the black plastic trash bag. next weekend: some collaged panels, heavy wood. i don’t have a saw. but i have black paint. oh yes i do.
Comment by bobbi — Tuesday, 13 May, 2008 @ 1:38 pm